Upgrade to help new Indian carriers to start flying to US, enter into code share with US airlines while existing ones can add more stations
In what could be a positive development for the Indian carriers flying to the US and India's growing bilateral ties with North America in the aviation sector, the US Federal Aviation Association (FAA) on Wednesday reassigned Category I safety rating to the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) under its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme.
The Indian aviation regulator's safety rating had been downgraded to Category II, below even Pakistan, last year after it was found wanting on following global procedures and norms.
While this would immediately benefit airlines like the state-owned Air India and Jet Airways, which are currently operating flights to the US, the development also augurs well for airlines looking to launch flights there and looking to enter into code share with US carriers.
"The downgrade was a major setback for the Indian carriers as new ones could not start flying to the US and the existing ones were not able to add new stations. Those who were already flying to the US were subjected to many safety checks as they were viewed as safety hazards by FAA. Now (with the upgrade), it will be easier for Indian carriers to operate in the US sector," said an aviation expert, who did not want to be named.
Amber Dubey, partner and India head of aerospace and defence at global consultancy KPMG, welcomed the development but said aviation regulator would need to do more to "improve transparency and ease of doing business" with the industry.
"Full marks to DGCA, MoCA (ministry of civil aviation) and the industry stakeholders involved from both India and the US. Given the huge growth expected in Indian aviation sector and the safety challenges thereof, we can't afford to be complacent. DGCA needs continuous improvement in its systems, processes, manpower and training. Its financial and operational independence has to be enhanced. It has to improve its transparency and ease of doing business with industry. The industry hopes that Category I upgrade should lead to further reforms. And soon," he said.
The statement issued by the government said the civil aviation minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju was informed of the DGCA upgrade by the US secretary of Department of Transportation (DoT) Anthony Foxx, who is leading a high level US delegation to India.
An aviation expert said the domestic airline market in the US was more lucrative than the international market and therefore players preferred on focus on the local market. This has seen airline operators like the Emirates, Lufthansa, British Air, Air India and others corner a large chunk of US's overseas market.
"There is huge potential to be tapped in the US sector for the Indian carriers. With the enhancement in the rating, they (Indian carriers) can tap that opportunity by starting new flights and entering into code share with US airlines," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}